Since its introduction in 2008, Vivid Laminating Technologies’ Matrix series of single-sided laminators have sold very well into printers who have found they can afford to bring short run laminating inhouse, often for the first time.
The 500 mm wide Matrix 530 model, which can take SRA3 and B3 sheets fed in landscape form or B2 portrait, has been particularly attractive to digital press users as it matches most common formats.
About 18 months ago the Matrix 530 was updated with a new LCD control panel and other refinements, since when some 120 have been sold, mostly to small copy and print shops as well as digital press users in general. It’s also proved popular with photobook producers for cover lamination.
Now the Matrix 530 has been transformed with the introduction of an optional Auto Feeder module, the MF-530. This takes paper stacks up to 80 mm high, allowing unattended operation for the first time.
The standard feeder is semi-automatic with auto-overlapping. ‘A lot of customers came back and asked us for a fully automatic feeder, so we realised there was obviously a demand for development,’ said David Smith, Vivid’s marketing manager. ‘Without the feeder the operator has to stand by the machine and feed each sheet. Now the operator is freed up to be doing other things.’
The feeder was shown as a prototype at drupa in May, when it attracted a lot of attention, according to Mr Smith. Production units have just arrived and installations started in November on new machines in the UK and Europe. The second batch will also be offered as retrofits to existing Matrix 530s.
This is the Auto Feed Module shown separately from the rest of the laminator. These are the components that will be retrofitted to existing units.
In fact the very first production unit no sooner arrived in late October than it was shipped off to the SGIA (Speciality Graphic Imaging Association) show in Las Vegas, where Vivid was exhibiting for the second time ever in the USA. The company was very happy with the attention it gained. ‘Visitors were very impressed with our systems,’ said sales manager Richard Marlow, ‘especially the Matrix range.’
The Auto Feed Module has its own independent control panel, used to set the speed and the vacuum strength for the suction feeders and fine tune the sheet positioning.
The Feed module includes the suction pile feeder and controls in a self-contained unit that bolts over the original feed table of the Matrix 530, increasing its footprint slightly. It needs to be connected to a compressor for the suction sheet pickup. The controls allow the operator to set suction pressure and feeding speed, fine-tune the paper feed by up to 8 mm, and switch from auto to manual.
The main lamination unit’s speed is unchanged. It runs at up to 7 metres per minute. It is officially rated at about 1000 SRA3 sheets per hour, though the company says that this is a ‘realistic’ figure that’s actually only half the speed that’s possible with some combinations of substrate and film. A separator and automatic stacker means the work emerges ready for guillotining.
The main controls for the Matrix 530 are on the LCD unit that can be seen on the steel swing-arm above the main unit. These are now multi-lingual, which is useful for Vivid’s thriving export business.
The maximum lamination width is 440 mm and the Auto Feeder can take sheet sizes up to 500 x 620 mm, which is enough for press formats up to B2 size, but easily copes with SRA3 and B3 sheets fed landscape. It takes sheets down to 200 x 300 mm and weights can range from 160 to 350 g/m2.
The lamination temperature can be set on the control panel to between 80 and 130O C to suit the adhesive. Both speed and temperature can be altered manually to get the best results. The warm-up time from cold is about 10 minutes.
Either gloss or matt film can be applied, and the film reel lengths are 1000 metres, so you don’t need to change them so often. Earlier this year Vivid rebranded its premium film range from ProLife to BOSS. The range includes laminating pouches, single side standard and digital film, encapsulating film, pressure sensitive over laminates, self wound mount film and printable bloc light films.
Vivid is a 25 year old UK company based in Coalville, Leicestershire. It designs and patents all its own laminators. The 530 is the middle model in its Matrix family of
compact, affordable single sided laminators. The others are the 370, for sheets up to 420 mm wide (and lamination up to 340 mm), and the 700, for sheets up to 730 mm wide (and lamination up to 700 mm). All are strongly built, with simplicity of use and easy maintenance in mind.
The new MF-530 Auto Feeder is available for demonstration on the Matrix 530 at Vivid’s showroom in Coalville.
Contact: www.vivid-online.com
Telephone: 0845 1304050
